Sport

Molyneux set to rejoin Accrington Stanley

ACCRINGTON Stanley are in talks to bring last season’s player of the year Lee Molyneux back to the club on loan from Crewe Alexandra.

Molyneux scored eight in the final 13 games of last term to help save Stanley from relegation to the Conference.

Many of the goals were stunning left-footed efforts, earning the 24-year-old the tongue-in-cheek tag of ‘the League Two Gareth Bale’.

Molyneux opted to move up to League One to join Crewe when his Stanley contract expired in the summer but has made only four starts for the Gresty Road club this season.

He made three substitute appearances during a loan spell at League Two Rochdale before the turn of the year, and has now trained with Stanley ahead of a likely loan switch.

Molyneux is expected to sign an initial one-month loan deal ahead of Saturday’s home match against Bury, with a view to the loan being extended.

That could see him take up the left wing spot against Bury but Piero Mingoia, the man who has been occupying that spot in most recent games, yesterday put pen to paper on a new contract with Stanley.

Mingoia signed a one-year deal with Stanley in the summer after being released by Watford. The midfielder had a loan spell with the Reds last season.

The 22-year-old has now extended his Stanley deal for another year, until the summer of 2015.

“I’m really pleased to have agreed this extension,” Mingoia said. “When I didn’t have a club in the summer Accrington gave me the chance to play football again and I’m really grateful for that opportunity. This is a great club with a great manager, staff, squad and set of fans and I’m looking forward to playing here for another year.”

Mingoia has made 24 appearances this season, including scoring the winner in the League Cup first round tie at Middlesbrough.

“We’re delighted to have agreed this extension with Piero,” said manager James Beattie.

“He’s worked tremendously hard over the past few months and has worked himself into position where he’s a valuable member of our squad. His work ethic and dedication to doing his job is refreshing to see and second to none and is something that we felt needed to be rewarded with this new contract.”

Goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli is expected to soon extend his loan deal from Fulham. Bettinelli’s current loan expires on January 30.

Former Reds loan winger Jamie Devitt yesterday joined Morecambe on a one-month loan deal from Chesterfield.

Toto Nsiala this week linked up with John Coleman at Southport, after a brief trial spell with Vietnamese club Hanoi T&T.

Maybe, but can't blame the lad for taking his chance on what seemed to be a really good move for him - can't understand why it's not worked out at Crewe but will be good to see him back in a Stanley shirt

Maybe, but can't blame the lad for taking his chance on what seemed to be a really good move for him - can't understand why it's not worked out at Crewe but will be good to see him back in a Stanley shirtaccstan